Wall Lights

In living rooms and hallways, mount wall lights about 150–170 cm from the floor, so the light sits just above eye level. Bedside wall lights usually go 120–130 cm from the floor, low enough to read by without glare. Keep a pair at the same height, measured from the floor rather than the ceiling.

Hard-wired wall lights look the cleanest but need an electrician and a wiring point in the wall. Plug-in wall lights hang from a screw and run a fabric cable to a socket, which suits renters and rooms without existing wiring. The cable can become a design feature or be tidied with a cover.

In hallways, space wall lights roughly every 2–2.5 m for even light. Either side of a mirror, fireplace or bed, set them 15–30 cm beyond the edges of what they frame, so the light spreads across it rather than shining directly at it. Measure carefully before wiring. In a long hallway, an odd number of lights centred on the space looks most balanced.

Yes, and they free up the bedside table, which helps in small bedrooms. Choose swing-arm or adjustable designs so you can direct light onto a book, with a switch you can reach easily from bed. A pair of wall lights also keeps a bed wall looking balanced. Plug-in designs avoid rewiring.